The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1887-07-23
MEXICAN SUGAR FIELDS.
A Grand Opportunity for Capitalists, But
None for the Poor Man.

A Grand Opportunity for Capitalists, But
None for the Poor Man.
Not only is Jalisco one of the richest
of the Mexican States, both in soil and
minerals, and most interesting in history
and scenic beauty, but it is one of the
most important in point of size and
population, having an area of 10l. 430
square kilometers and nearly million
inhabitants. The future prosperity OF
this section doubtless lies in the fact
that it is within Mexico's great sugar.
cane belt. Immediately along the beach
from San Bias, even further north than
Mazatlan, there is belt of sandy
soil ranging from five to ten miles in
land. Between that belt and the foot
hills, nearly every acre in district
fifteen miles wide. might be utilized
without irrigation for the immediate
cultivation of sugar-cane, and even
the sandy belt, like the desert lands of
California, has its possibilities. The
Santiago river empties into the
sea about ten miles north of
San Bias, and the bottom lands
of its valley are extremely fertile, away
up into the mountain passes. The bot
tom lands of this noble stream, added
to the fifteen-mile belt above alluded
to, are now producing sugar-cane and
rice, cotton, tobacco and two crops of
corn a year, to say nothing of the great
variety of wild tropical fruits. tits not
an over estimate to say that within this
area are 1000 square miles of land
capable within three years of landing
in New York or San Francisco the
largest single locality sugar crop in the
world. The expense of irrigation need
not be incurred, and the sugar-cane
here has been proved to contain more
saccharine matter than that imported
from the Sandwich Isla nds.
Plenty of native labor in the plant
ing, harvesting and manufacturing a
sugar crop can be relied on, at wages
ranging from twenty-five cents per
diem to seventy-five cents for skilled
labor. But though Mexican laborers are
patient, obedient and generally willin g
to work when promptly paid, all the
heads of the different branches of the
machinery should be Americans pos
sessed of some knowledge of the Span
ish language.
There is about enough manufactured
now to supply local demand and furnish
the neighboring States of Sinaloa and
Sonora. The principal product is white
loaf sugar, averaging about fifteen
cents per Mexican pound. Another
grade. granulated and slightly darker,
sells at ten cents per pound, which
is abaut three per cent. more than our
pound. These varieties do not grade al
all with sugar produced in the southern
portion of the United States, and neither
sirup nor molasses is made or used in
Jalisco.
But itshould be distinctly understood
that there is positively no field here 70,
poor man, and every enterprise seek
ing Mexico for investment must be sup
ported with ample capital.
Land in any desirable locality nc
longer retains title in the Government.
Nearly every foot of it is held by people
who retain title from the crown o.
Spain, or from governments of the
country. Land is bought and sold il
immense grants. from fifty to one hun
dred miles square. for lump sum and
never by the acre. Golden opportuni
ties frequently offer themselves for pur-
, chasing some of these municipalities al
prices which would astonish the land
owners of the East. Fannie B. Ward
in Columbus Sunday Capital.